The average price of owning a holiday home in France

How much does it cost to buy a second home? Well of course it depends on the area – so how much does it cost where you might want to buy? 

The appetite for second homes in France is as strong as ever, as the trend of teleworking is here to stay, as well as the need to improve our quality of life after the health crisis. As the pandemic has segued into economic uncertainty, investment into real estate is a trend, especially when interest rates remain low. 

France’s superb TGV network allows speedy commuting two or three times a week, meaning that locations within two hours of Paris, or another major city, have been popular. But of course, popular second-home locations tend to be the most expensive.

SeLoger found that the average in Aquitaine – around Bordeaux – is €383,800, the Ile-de-France at €367,300, and PACA (Provence, Alps, and Cote d’Azur) it is €356,100. Next up are two popular areas within easy reach of Paris: Poitou-Charentes at €306,100, closely followed by Brittany at €298,000.

But where to go for the best value? Perhaps no surprises that it is the less densely populated Auvergne at €127,500 and Limousin at €140,100. We reckon the Midi-Pyrenees is one to watch at €162,600 – if you fancy a piece of southern France with a modest budget.

But here are four properties to tempt in some of your favourite areas:

This property perfectly illustrates how far your money will go in Brittany. It is a lovely stone detached property with six bedrooms and plenty of room. Surrounded by peaceful gardens and an orchard, it’s a short distance to a hamlet in the popular Cotes-d’Armor.

In Central France the average price is €190,300. This weighs in below that and is a beautifully renovated detached property with three bedrooms, spa area, barns, a paddock – what is not to like? It’s in a lovely hamlet but close to the A20 motorway.

This beautiful four-bedroom Provencal house for only €275,000? This comes under the average for this area and is really worth a look.  At the foot of Mont Ventoux, it also comes with high-speed internet – and 45km from Avignon TGV – perfect for hybrid working?

This is another find. The dream of a quintessential chocolate-box chalet in one of the top ski areas, the Portes du Soleil comes with a very realistic price tag. The semi-detached property has two bedrooms and two bathrooms – the ideal Alpine bolthole.